President Boakai Revokes BIO-CHICO Permit Amid Mounting Public Outcry: Critical Questions Remain

Monrovia, Liberia: In what appears to be a long-overdue response to growing public outrage, President Joseph Boakai has officially revoked the operating permit of BIO-CHICO, a Hong Kong-registered mining company with operations in Gbarpolu County, Liberia.

The announcement, delivered by Information Minister Jerolinmek Piah during a MICAT press briefing, revealed that the revocation came after “numerous complaints” from residents spanning Montserrado (District 17), Bomi, and Gbarpolu counties. Communities have consistently decried the company’s use of massive iron ore trucks, citing environmental degradation, increased road accidents, and general public safety threats.

But critics are now asking: Why did it take this long?

BIO-CHICO has operated under scrutiny for years. Residents allege that the company’s trucks have not only destroyed local roads but have also made life unbearable in rural areas with dust pollution, traffic congestion, and accidents—some reportedly fatal. Activists and watchdog groups have long questioned how the company obtained and maintained such an extensive permit in the first place, given the visible impact on communities.

Opaque Licensing and Oversight Failures

The broader concern centers on the lack of regulatory oversight. Was the Ministry of Mines & Energy, along with other government bodies, complicit or simply negligent in enforcing safety and environmental protocols? And if public pressure had not mounted, would BIO-CHICO still be operating today?

This revocation, while necessary, raises deeper issues about institutional accountability and the need for systemic reform in Liberia’s natural resource governance. The inter-ministerial meeting that led to this decision—comprising officials from Justice, Public Works, Mines & Energy, Transport, State, and Information—should not only address this single case but also re-evaluate how foreign companies operate within the country.

What Comes Next?

While the government may claim this move as a victory for environmental justice and local empowerment, observers caution that mere revocation is not enough. Residents want remediation for damaged roads and polluted environments. They also demand transparency on how BIO-CHICO was vetted and approved in the first place.

As Liberia opens its doors to international investors, citizens are watching closely to ensure that this is not just a symbolic act—but a turning point in protecting people and the environment from unchecked corporate exploitation.